Epa Prudent To Delay Burning

June 2, 1986

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency wisely has decided that experimental offshore incineration of toxic wastes must wait until more legal and scientific questions are answered.

The postponement announced by Assistant EPA Administrator Lawrence Jensen reflects many public concerns expressed last year as the environmental agency aired a proposal by Chemical Waste Management Inc. to burn waste oils contaminated with cancer-causing PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls.

Chemical Waste Management had proposed to burn the PCB-laden oil off the Atlantic Coast of either Florida or New Jersey, but by last November had chosen a spot 140 miles east of Cape May, N.J., as its preferred site.

The delay cheered many Northeast government officials and environmentalists, who said more transportation precautions should be taken, mistrusted the technology of the incineration ships and complained that no one would be assigned liability if the toxic oil leaked before incineration.

Similarly, officials from Florida and other coastal states including Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and California were pleased by EPA`s decision.

The delay will give Chemical Waste Management time to more fully answer how to guarantee safe transportation of the wastes and to provide more proof that incineration will destroy virtually all of the PCBs.

Meanwhile, the EPA will develop ocean incineration regulations and ultimately establish its position on Chemical Waste Management`s proposal.

Slow and measured is the only proper way EPA should deal with the transportation and incineration of poisons that, if improperly handled, could pollute the marine food chain not only for parts of the United States but for other nations.